Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Basenji Training
  3. Wrestling in the crate

Wrestling in the crate

Basenji Training
  • PujiP

    Our boy Charlie (now 16 months old) has been getting to know his baby sister Lexi (now 4 months old) for the past month and a half. In general, all is going well. Though he can get grumpy and short with her, he can also be very gentle and 'motherly' with her, too. The past week, I've noticed that they sometimes take their wrestling sessions into her crate… picture Lexi on her back, wriggling and pounding her little paws into big brother Charlie... Charlie snarling and bearing down. I'm not concerned when they're doing this on the rug or out in the yard, but I wonder if her crate should be her safe zone, where she can go to get away from Charlie if she wants. Should I intervene, or just let them sort it out?

    0
  • S

    I would also be interested in the info the forum has to share…
    I don't crate, but this issue has come up in rescue, so I need to learn...

    Sharron Hurlbut

    BRAT, basenji rescue

    Evergreen basenji club

    Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue

    0
  • tanzaT

    @Puji:

    Our boy Charlie (now 16 months old) has been getting to know his baby sister Lexi (now 4 months old) for the past month and a half. In general, all is going well. Though he can get grumpy and short with her, he can also be very gentle and 'motherly' with her, too. The past week, I've noticed that they sometimes take their wrestling sessions into her crate… picture Lexi on her back, wriggling and pounding her little paws into big brother Charlie... Charlie snarling and bearing down. I'm not concerned when they're doing this on the rug or out in the yard, but I wonder if her crate should be her safe zone, where she can go to get away from Charlie if she wants. Should I intervene, or just let them sort it out?

    Her crate should for sure (IMO) be her safe place…

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • QuercusQ

    As a general rule, I don't crate dogs together. There are some instances where it can be a saving grace (Jazzysmom?). And sometimes if we are going somewhere with all the dogs in the van I will double up for a short ride.

    I am too worried that a serious fight might erupt with no one there to intervene.

    In this case, it sounds like you are there, and the play is just happening in the crate? Unless it looks like Lexi wants to be getting away, I wouldn't worry about it…usually it is the adult dog that wants to get away. But it never hurts to keep the crate off limits until it is time to go in...kinda builds the mystery and suspense of the good stuff that happens in the crate. If you think that Charlie is being too rough, and she needs a break, then I would definitely intervene.

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

    0
  • JazzysMomJ

    @Quercus:

    As a general rule, I don't crate dogs together. There are some instances where it can be a saving grace (Jazzysmom?).

    Yes, in the large wire crate togetherness saved our sanity. HOWEVER, when I tried putting them together in the smaller plastic crates, Jazzy was NOT happy and there was much bickering so I stopped.

    0
  • PujiP

    @Quercus:

    In this case, it sounds like you are there, and the play is just happening in the crate? Unless it looks like Lexi wants to be getting away, I wouldn't worry about it…

    Yes, I'm around when they're out of their crates, and sometimes they take their play sessions into either his or her crate. They do each have their own crates, but sometimes Lexi wanders into his and vice versa throughout the day. I make sure they sleep and eat in their own crates though - Charlie can be too grumpy when he's tired or hungry, and I think a conflict would be very possible if they were to be in the same small space for eating/sleeping.

    It's hard to tell if Lexi wants to get away from Charlie when they're wrestling in her crate. It looks like usual play, except she can't escape him. I suppose she'd scream or something if she were distressed…

    I like the idea of keeping their crates closed while they're out and about in the house - building the mystery and special status of the crate, as you say. But that prevents them from seeking refuge in their own 'bedrooms'... not that they've done that so far, though...

    0
  • ComicDom1C

    Our dogs do wander in and out of each other crates. They will even lay down in the others crates. Having said that, I am of the opinion that each dogs individual crate should be their own safe place. I know our Boston uses hers as a place to retreat when she does not wish to be bothered by the Basenji or just senses she needs to be out of the way.

    Roo our Basenji actually seems to respect that and will usually leave her be. Of course her crate is smaller so it would be difficult for both of them to be in it at once.

    Jason

    Get your Basenji Fanconi DNA tested today!

    https://secure.offa.org/dnatesting/index.html

    0

Suggested Topics

  • E

    Crate training

    Basenji Training
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    5k Views
    ZandeZ
    Exactly as it should be ! Happiness well deserved :grinning_face:
  • AnaA

    Crate training

    Basenji Training
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    4k Views
    AnaA
    He does only poop in his crate, no urine usually. I am trying to gradually get him to like his crate, but I do think it might be a lost cause. But yesterday I left for about three hours and left him in the kitchen. When I got back, I opened the door and looked down to see not only my cat waiting for me but my dog as well… He found a way to get out of the kitchen and have the run on my apartment. I now know why basenjis are called escape artists. I was happy to find that although he had an accident in the living room, he didn't destroy anything. But I won't count on one time to trust him alone. I am going to stick with the kitchen and try to make sure he can't get out.
  • AnnA

    Crate Guilt

    Basenji Training
    23
    0 Votes
    23 Posts
    9k Views
    nobarkusN
    @Ann: Hi Dan. Thanks for your feedback. Noel will be 5 in November. (I don't know how she spent her first 4 years.) Our fence is 6' so other dogs can't get in…it's her reaction to them that could cause problems. I'm sort of a hyper worrier since Noel has a weak front leg. It was badly broken in December and, when there's squirrel/dog activity around the yard or in the alley behind us, she forgets about her leg and goes into a full run and jump mode. It's great to see her fly over our 2' stone ledge and run the periphery of yard like a guard dog or chase a squirrel back to its tree, but if left outside alone all day there's the potential that she'll overdo it and tire out her leg to the point of pain. I know I'm sounding over-protective...The vet recommends plenty of exercise but in small doses to avoid the fatigue thing. (I'll be posting some queries soon in relation to this!) OK Ann, now I see your dilemma here. This is a tuff one keeping a Basenji still or low activity especially when you're not there. The only other thing you could do is set up a kennel run or large dog pen to reduce the area. see this picture. http://www.seefido.com/html/dog_kennel_runs_pen_fence_.htm
  • DiegosMomD

    Pooping in crate!

    Basenji Training
    47
    0 Votes
    47 Posts
    22k Views
    wrx227wrcW
    Piggy only has problems pooping when she gets panicky too. For example if we leave her home in a crate and someone comes in the house but doesn't come down to see her or let her out she will do it. We can't put anything in her crate or she shreds it, we tried everything. For a while I was even buying fleece baby blankets at the dollar store and tossing them if she pooped. We gave up on that after a while. The mess was terrible, so I can relate to hours of cleanup… by the time you get her cleaned up and the crate. We did some desensitizing and left for short periods like I described before, and that helped a lot. My friend that has a B went to the vet about her anxiety, hers would cry incessantly, and they actually gave her meds, prozac I think, for it. I think she tried it, but didn't think it worked enough to do it. Sounded crazy to me. It hasn't happened in a while so we have been lucky. She has come to terms with her crate now and will once in a while go hang out in it by choice, so I know she doesn't hate it. Have you tried one of those snuggle buddy things? I wonder if you could find some way to protect it if Darwin had an accident. Best of luck and lots of patience!
  • Ninabeana26N

    Crate peeing!

    Basenji Training
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    4k Views
    hdolbowH
    mia only gets water when were there to watch her and take her out about 10-15 minutes later.. whenever shes taken out of the crate she goes straight outside.. and before we put her in we take her out again, whether thats 15 or 20 minutes or an hour. i've quickly learned that water goes RIGHT through them. so taking the water out of the cage should work! she has an occasional accident but not everyday.
  • Mark1491M

    Pooping in the crate

    Basenji Training
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    6k Views
    tanzaT
    You might also try a small crate… if the crate is too large, then they can poop or pee in one part and still have a clean area in another...